Bladder catheterization in Greek nursing education: An audit of the skills taught

The auditing of nurse teaching is in its infancy in Greece. One area urgently in need of audit is the teaching of male catheterization.

To assess the current educational model regarding male bladder catheterization at a sole tertiary education nursing establishment in a major Greek city and to improve nurse undergraduate training by implementing appropriate recommendations for change to the current educational module and support these changes in the long term.

A systematic search of international databases for guidelines or best practice regarding bladder catheterization was conducted. Audit measures included direct observation of the teaching process and compilation of a checklist.

The shortcomings are discussed under the following headings: patient pre-preparation, choice and quality of materials used, appropriate aseptic techniques, catheter withdrawal, connecting and handling the drainage bag, diminishing risk of Catheter Associated Urinary Track Infections (CAUTIs), no problem solving trouble-shooting training, textbook and educational resources, lack of national guidelines, setting of the educational experience.

The main problem with the teaching process exposed by the audit is entrenched use of an outmoded textbook with little effort to enrich teaching with current evidence base practices.